EXFO Inc. (NASDAQ: EXFO) (TSX: EXF) says the PPM-350D PON Power Meter is the first "PON-aware" (a descriptor it has trademarked) passive optical network (PON) power meter. The system automatically detects the PON technology in use in the network under tests and adjusts its test parameters accordingly, the company explains. The detection ability covers current GPON and EPON schemes as well as their respective next-generation iterations as well the RF over Glass (RFoG) approach in use by cable operators, EXFO adds.
The feature simplifies service activation tasks as well as reduces the chances of error, EXFO says. "We developed the PON-aware power meter to tackle two key challenges for CSPs [communications services providers] dealing with multiple legacy and next-gen technologies," said Stéphane Chabot, EXFO's vice president, test and measurement. "First, field technicians can't fix problems that older power meters can't see. Second, it can be difficult to select the right test parameters for the technology, which increases the risk of meaningless test results and false positives. By using automation to solve both problems, the PPM-350D helps CSPs avoid the high costs of sending tech teams back to fix problems for frustrated new customers."
"With next-gen PON upgrades underway in every region, seamless upgrades require the overlaying of new wavelengths on existing fibers as operators combine existing PON with next-gen PON solutions," added Julie Kunstler, principal analyst within Ovum's Next-Gen Infrastructure Practice, via an EXFO press release. "EXFO's PON meter enables technicians to accurately test and thereby fix any customer connections during service activation for legacy and next-gen PON technologies such as GPON, EPON, XG-PON1, XGS-PON, 10G-EPON, and NG-PON2, without needing to know an operator's specific upgrade roadmap."
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